Google Maps Adds Walking, Biking Routes So You Can Trek Through National Parks

To commemorate National Park Week, Google Maps has added a slew of updates that will make it easier for any adventurous hiker to navigate along the trails of the country’s most beautiful outdoor spaces.

Developed in collaboration with National Park Service rangers and directors, the latest features help ease common challenges those trekking through the wilderness face, such as how to reach the nearest public restroom or where the best trailheads lie.

Image via Google

Now, every time you step into a national park, Maps will allow you to identify the most popular spots within its confines, ranging from the main campgrounds to visitor centers, based on reviews left by the community.

A hike through the park will literally be as easy as a walk in the park with the addition of the trail feature, enabling those on the go to view the entire route on the map instead of just a single, itsy-bitsy pin, so the whole trip can be planned out ahead.

Image via Google

This segment includes reviews and photographs taken by other visitors and will contain helpful information about the trail, such as its level of difficulty, what type of terrain it is, and if it’s better suited to running, walking, or cycling.

Once the plan’s been laid out, Maps will direct you to the destinations you’ve selected with more precise directions. To be rolled out later this month, the feature will highlight park entrances on the map itself, with walking or cycling directions directly leading to the trailhead chosen.

Image via Google

Naturally, in this chronically-online era, there’s a fear of being out in open spaces is the lack of cell and internet service. To combat this, Google is making it possible for park maps to be downloaded for offline use, so travelers can still find their bearings even if there’s no Wi-Fi nearby.

Those located elsewhere in the world can eagerly await as the features roll out to other parks globally in the coming months.

[via Travel + Leisure and TechCrunch, images via various sources]